VFLW players pose with the premiership cup ahead of the 2021 finals series at Ikon Park. Picture: AFL Photos

COLLINGWOOD and Geelong will face off in the 2021 VFLW Finals and meet for the second time in as many weeks. At the same time, Casey will take on the Bombers, with Sunday's Port Melbourne-Southern Saints match rounding out a huge first week of VFLW finals.

Saturday July 3

Qualifying Final

Collingwood v Geelong, Holden Centre @ 12pm AEST

Watch here: https://youtu.be/SPOMiFfNVy4

The Pies closed out the home and away season with a hard-fought 19-point win over the Cats to remain undefeated. It was a tight contest with the first goal not kicked until late into the second term and Collingwood could only add two more and Geelong was kept goalless. The Cats have now lost both their games against the Pies this season but fans should expect another tight contest with the added finals intensity.

Tamara Smith told reporters at the VFLW Finals launch this week the key to beating the Pies was to "stop them getting their hands on the footy" by applying plenty of pressure around the contest. If anyone is the key to that for Geelong, it's Smith who led the competition for tackles averaging over 10 a game in the home and away portion of the season.

Second Elimination Final

Casey Demons v Essendon, Casey Fields @ 12pm AEST

Watch here: https://youtu.be/x-AQ0nfIlwg

Fifth-placed Essendon takes on the fourth-placed Casey Demons in the second elimination final at Casey Fields. The match will be both sides' first ever appearances in the VFLW Finals. The Bombers and Demons met way back in round two at the same venue with Essendon managing to hold on against the fast-finishing Dees by eight points. There are often unique conditions at Casey meaning that it may come down to who handles the often blustery setting better. The Bombers will feel confident knowing they've defeated Casey on their home turf before. In addition, Casey were the only top-four side Essendon defeated during the home and away season.                      

The last time these two sides met Essendon captain Georgia Nanscawen had a best-on-ground performance, winning a game-high 25 disposals and 17 tackles. A similar effort from Nanscawen will be important for the Bombers' chances but the depth of the Essendon team is one of their strengths that has got them through to the finals.

Sunday July 4

First Elimination Final

Port Melbourne v Southern Saints, ETU Stadium @ 2pm AEST

Watch here: TBC

Port Melbourne was unable to shore up a spot in the top two and the the Southern Saints just scraped into the top six into the final round of the season and so the two will meet in the first Elimination Final. It's been a remarkable inaugural season for the Borough who have made the finals in their first ever year in the VFLW. The Southern Saints were just the second team to knock off the Borough in round 10 and had a comprehensive victory over North Melbourne to get themselves to the finals. Whereas Port had a disappointing loss against Hawthorn in round 14. Despite Port Melbourne going into this as the higher-ranked side expect the Saints to not go down without a fight.  

Tara Bohanna has been one of the Southern Saints' most important players this season and that was exemplified against North in round 14. Bohanna had 25 disposals, three goals (from seven scoring shots), nine marks and spent some time in the ruck. While she didn't quite reach those heights in round 10 against the Borough she still proved a handful for the Port defence kicking two goals from 18 disposals and taking eight marks. She is one of the key players the Borough will be looking to nullify in this elimination final.

CASEY DEMONS v ESSENDON 

Casey Demons

B: 12. A. Brown, 9. G. Colvin, 24. E. Horne
HB: 48. M. Kendall, 38. C. Sherriff, 20. B. Tarrant
C: 25. S.Johnson, 
HF: 31. T. Fellows, 6. E. Humphries, 32. E. West
F: 16. A. Bannan, 28. I. Milford, 19. J. Parry
R: 14. K. Gillespie-Jones, 2. S. Heath, 18. M. Macdonald
Int: 8. S. Fairchild, 1. M. Fitzsimon, 36. N. Hales, 26. A. Kirkwood, 39. G. Matser
Emg: 7. M. Harasimiuk, 43. E. McNamara, 15. B. Winbanks, 29. E. Zanker 

Essendon 

B: 18. K. Heil, 16. T. Crook, 20. C. McIntosh
HB: 9. M. Anthony, 39. L. Ahrens, 8. E. Ashley-Cooper
C: 11. A.  Barba, 
HF: 13. E. Hosking, 33. T. Slender, 22. N. MacDonald
F: 41. R. Svarc, 4. M. Clifford, 40. E. Yassir
R: 30. S. Nalder, 5. G. Nanscawen, 43. G. Prespakis
Int: 7. J. Davies, 47. Z. Friswell, 24. T. Gillard, 21. A. Morcom, 1. C. Ugle
Emg: 44. G. Dicker, 34. K. Lennox, 25. L. Stepnell

COLLINGWOOD v GEELONG

Collingwood

B: 11. I. Purcell, 70. J. Ferguson, 5. A. Velardo
HB: 41. A. Porter, 23. L. Butler, 63. G. Ricardo
C: 56. M.  Neal, 
HF: 55. C. Bunker, 40. A. Moloney, 20. J. Lin
F: 2. C. Molloy, 77. I. Barnett, 51. M. Zander
R: 92. S. King, 35. E. O'Dea, 25. M. Cann
Int: 71. H. Bowey, 57. L. Durante, 91. D. Hallett, 72. K. Lee, 64. O. Meagher
Emg: 58. K. Colborne-Veel, 65. E. Jackson, 76. N. Weston

Geelong

B: 45. M. Keryk, 26. M. Boyd, 47. C. Leonard
HB: 58. B. Beckley, 55. P. Sheppard, 38. T. Meissner
C: 27. S.  Van De Heuvel, 
HF: 17. G. Clarke, 42. A. Johnson, 7. M. Maguire
F: 60. C. Gunjaca, 1. R. Caris, 4. D. Moloney
R: 13. O. Fuller, 21. R. Webster, 12. R. Garing
Int: 18. L. Gardiner, 32. B. Pratt, 40. T. Smith, 39. T. Tatlock, 31. J. Woollett
Emg: 36. S. DeGiacomi, 33. N. French, 20. M. Skinner

PORT MELBOURNE v SOUTHERN SAINTS

Port Melbourne

B: 23. J. Anthony, 12. C. Saxon-Jones, 2. B. Kennedy
HB: 15. C. Dyett, 1. O. Barton, 9. M. Kuys
C: 25. A.  Ling, 
HF: 51. K. Jacques, 41. E. Harley, 24. A. Richards
F: 10. S. Locke, 16. E. Wilson, 42. A. Smith
R: 27. A. Edmonds, 4. C. Bromage, 64. E. McKenzie
Int: 5. H. Bailey, 18. E. Bliss, 22. N. Borg, 19. I. Stutt, 37. B. Vickers
Emg: 32. K. Adams, 30. S. McNamara, 29. A. Tanner

Southern Saints

B: 49. E. Stuber, 2. F. Hocking, 20. E. Vanderheym
HB: 52. A. Burke, 28. L. Burke, 1. R. Neaves
C: 35. M.  Capsalis, 
HF: 45. J. Matin, 15. T. Bohanna, 24. K. Ripari
F: 39. G. De Angelis, 37. A. Peck, 53. T. Smith
R: 16. A. Hynes, 12. H. Stuart, 4. D. Jolliffe
Int: 13. M. Bertuna, 29. T. Kearns, 11. J. Radford, 55. C. Ryan, 56. P. Staltari
Emg: 7. A. Harris, 33. G. Hodder, 31. A. Jordan